|
| Mitchell Johnson ran for 115 yards and two touchdowns for Randolph-Macon in its win vs. Washington & Jefferson. Photo by Mike Atherton, d3photography.com | More photos from this game |
Mary Hardin-Baylor made the third time the charm, while Johns Hopkins survived a last-second attempt from Grove City, Randolph-Macon rolled past W&J after a slow start, Mount Union rolled, the defending national champions survived and the WIAC was eliminated in the round of 32 for the second time in three seasons.
Mary Hardin-Baylor avenged two regular season losses and held off Hardin-Simmons for a hard-fought 17-13 victory. The game started with a bang when Da'Marrion Morris returned a Hardin-Simmons punt 61 yards to the Cowboys’ 3-yard line, setting up a touchdown on the very next play as Asa Osbourn ran it in for the score. Quarterback Jake Wright extended the lead later in the first quarter, connecting with Jerry Day for a 26-yard touchdown pass to give UMHB a 14-0 advantage. Hardin-Simmons responded with 13 unanswered points, narrowing the gap to 14-13 early in the fourth quarter, and had a chance to take the lead when they missed a 42-yard field goal attempt with 8:19 remaining.
UMHB's defense stepped up in the final moments, with Durand Hill leading the charge. After Hardin-Simmons failed to convert a first down on their next drive, UMHB capitalized with a short field goal to extend their lead to 17-13. Hill's standout performance included a game-high 12 tackles, two sacks, and an interception on HSU's fourth-down attempt with 43 seconds left, sealing the victory for the Cru. The UMHB defense was dominant throughout, holidng Hardin-Simmons to just 194 total yards of offense.
Johns Hopkins advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III football playoffs with a 17-14 win over Grove City bolstered by a huge effort from the Blue Jay defense. The Blue Jays took an early lead, scoring on their opening drive to go up 7-0, then leaned heavily on their defense, which held Grove City scoreless for the first 54 minutes of the game. Leading 17-0 with just 7:59 remaining, Grove City mounted a late rally, with quarterback Logan Pfeuffer connecting with Scott Fraser for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 5:29 left. On the ensuing possession, Jase Herrick recovered a blocked punt by Shay Aitken in the end zone for another Wolverine touchdown, bringing Grove City within three points at 17-14.
With under two minutes remaining, Grove City had one last opportunity to tie or take the lead. The Wolverines drove to the Johns Hopkins 10-yard line, but their hopes were dashed when Daniel Sullivan’s 27-yard field goal attempt hit the left upright and bounced away. Despite the late Grove City surge, Johns Hopkins’ defense was dominant throughout the game, limiting Grove City to minus-13 yards rushing. James Rinello led the way for the Blue Jay offense, throwing for 264 yards and one touchdown while rushing for the other Johns Hopkins touchdown.
Mitchell Johnson rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns and junior Jason Moore had 125 receiving yards and one score as Randolph-Macon shook off a 14-0 first-quarter deficit and scored 17 points in the final 2:18 of the second period in defeating Washington & Jefferson 38-22. After the Presidents jumped out to a 14-0 lead, Randolph-Macon scored the next 38 points to put the game away over the final three quarters. That run included lots of running, as Yellow Jackets quarterback Dante Casciola threw just 14 passes, completing seven of them for 137 yards and two scores. He ran for 83 yards and a touchdown, including a key scramble for a first down to keep a drive alive late in the second quarter.
Carnegie Mellon held on at home, to ensure that one Presidents' Athletic Conference team would advance to the round of 16 in the NCAA playoffs, as the Tartans (10-1) defeated Centre 24-15. Centre (8-3) rolled up 380 yards of total offense, but muffed a snap in its own territory late in the third quarter to lead to a Carnegie Mellon touchdown on a 32-yard drive. Carnegie Mellon found the end zone on a 7-yard strike from Ben Mills to Brendan McCullough, closing a seven-play, 40-yard drive of 2:44 to extend the lead to 17-7 with 13:33 left in the game. The Tartans scored later on another short drive, as Joey McGinnis IV came in at quarterback to lead a 23-yard drive and dove in for a TD late in the game.
Aaron Syverson threw three touchdown passes, including a little swing pass to running back Corey Bohmert that he took for a 69-yard touchdown with 2:38 left as St. John's answered a UW-La Crosse score with one of its own, getting past the Eagles 24-13. After the teams went to the locker room with the Johnnies leading 3-0, St. John's took the second-half kickoff and drove 75 yards for a touchdown, with Syverson finding Marselio Mendez to make it 10-0. The teams traded scores go into the fourth quarter at a 17-7 score before they traded scores one more time in the final five minutes. Kyle Haas finished 19-for-33 for 168 yards and a touchdown for the Eagles in the loss.
Wartburg sent the WIAC champion packing, as Dawson Rud ran for 155 yards and a touchdown to help the Knights get past UW-Platteville, 19-14. The Knights had limited the Pioneers (9-2) to just 175 yards of total offense midway through the fourth quarter and Carter Markham finished off a 61-yard drive with a 1-yard TD run to put Wartburg up 19-7 with 4:45 remaining. It was then that Platteville began to put togather a drive, but it took the Pioneers 16 plays and 3:35 to go 73 yards. Michael Priami capped it off with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Brandt Stare, cutting the lead to 19-14. But just 1:04 was left on the clock, and the Pioneers could not cover the onside kick, allowing Wartburg to run out the clock.
DePauw got a huge game from Robby Ballentine on the way to a 45-20 win over Maryville. Ballentine hauled in nine passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns in the contest. Maryville limited DePauw to a modest 139 rushing yards, but the Tigers rushed for four rushing touchdowns, highlighting their balanced offense. Quarterback Nathan McCahill threw for 320 yards and two touchdowns, leading DePauw’s air attack. Despite a strong effort from Maryville’s Bryson Rollins, who threw for 350 yards and two touchdowns, the Scots were not able to keep pace with the Tigers’ offense. DePauw advances to the round of 16 for just the second time in program history and will host Johns Hopkins.
Mount Union rolled to a dominant 42-7 victory over John Carroll, highlighted by a key defensive play and a strong rushing performance. Rossy Moore scored a pivotal defensive touchdown with a 31-yard fumble return off of Kaleb Brown’s strip of Nick Semptiphelter in the first quarter, giving the Purple Raiders a 14-0 lead early. John Carroll had a chance to cut the deficit to seven points late in the second quarter, but Evan McVay slipped just one yard shy of a first down on what would have been a walk-in touchdown, dashing a great scoring opportunity. Mount Union capitalized with a 97-yard drive, scoring on the last play of the half and pushing their lead to 28-7 at halftime. Tyler Echeverry was a standout on offense, rushing for 176 yards and two touchdowns, while also being the team's leading receiver with six catches and one receiving touchdown.
Salisbury used an explosive start and cruised to a 33-13 victory over King's. Dario Belizaire's opening kickoff return to the King's 40-yard line set up a 40-yard touchdown run by Ronald Clark on the first play from scrimmage for the Sea Gulls. Quarterback SyRus McGowan continued his strong run of play, rushing for two touchdowns and throwing for another score. Salisbury’s ground game dominated, out-rushing King's 246 to just 50 yards, and the Sea Gulls opened up a 32-6 lead in the fourth quarter on their way to a comfortable win.
Hope earned the first-ever postseason victory for the Flying Dutchmen with a 49-21 win over Aurora. Despite leading rusher Chance Strickland carrying the ball just six times, the Flying Dutchmen's offense thrived, with quarterback Ben Wellman turning in an impressive performance. Wellman completed 16 of 20 passes for 208 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for 89 yards and a touchdown. Aurora struck first with a touchdown on their opening drive, but Hope responded by scoring the game’s next 35 points to build a commanding third quarter lead. Hope's defense did their part in slowing down Aurora’s typically explosive offense, intercepting Spartan quarterback Tyler Adkins three times to stifle any comeback attempts. This victory is a historic milestone for Hope, as it was their first-ever postseason win after opening round losses in their five previous postseason appearances.
Cortland held off a second-half rally from Endicott to win 17-9 and eliminate the Gulls from the playoffs for the second consecutive season. The Red Dragons, who held a 14-0 halftime lead, relied on a solid defensive performance and key offensive contributions to secure the win. Cortland's running game was effective, with Ethan Gallo rushing 28 times for 97 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Zac Boyes connected with Jayson Zeva for a 23-yard touchdown in the second quarter to extend the defending champion’s lead to 14-0. Endicott's defense kept the game close, blocking a 24-yard field goal attempt late in the half, but the Gulls struggled to find consistent offense throughout the game.
Endicott made a strong push in the second half, with quarterback Clayton Marengi breaking free for a 39-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the third quarter, and kicker Ryan Smith hitting a 31-yard field goal to cut Cortland's lead to 14-9. However, Cortland answered with a 13-play, 48-yard drive that ended with a 33-yard field goal by Mike Baloga, pushing the lead back to eight points. The Red Dragons' defense, led by Jack Winey and Nazair Jean-Lubin, was key down the stretch, forcing a turnover on downs, a three and out, and an interception on Endicott's final three possessions. Jean-Lubin's interception with 1:14 left sealed the victory for Cortland, who will next face Springfield in the third round of the tournament.
Bethel joined Mary Hardin-Baylor as teams that played in the first weekend who advanced to the third round as the Royals dominated the second half to roll past Lake Forest 48-21. Bethel blocked two punts, including one which Jacob Holmen returned 18 yards for a touchdown in the win. Aaron Jackson got the Foresters (10-1) on the scoreboard first, as he took a handoff on fourth and 1-1/2 and ran 40 yards for a touchdown to put LFC up 7-0 less than four minutes in. Bethel twice settled for short field goals from Hugo Cifuentes and trailed 14-13 at the half, but took advantage of turnovers and special teams miscues to score 21 third-quarter points and went on to the win. Aaron Ellingson ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries while on the opposite side, Jackson ran for 93 yards and the score and also caught four passes for 67 yards and another touchdown.
Blake Eaton threw five first-half touchdowns and Linfield built a 48-point first-half lead on the way to a 65-3 romp past Texas Lutheran. Playing just the first half, Eaton completed 18 of 22 passes for 291 yards and no interceptions. Connor Wolfe (111 receiving yards) and Maclain Stoneking (94 receiving yards) each caught two touchdown passes from Eaton. Jacob Slifka and Jackson Pfeifer also pulled in TD passes from Luke McNabb, who regularly alternates with Eaton behind center. After TLU went three-and-out to begin the game, the Wildcats stuck paydirt on their very first offensive play. Blake Eaton passed 82 yards to a wide-open Connor Wolfe, who outsprinted a Bulldogs defender for the touchdowns. It was the longest play from scrimmage of the season for the Linfield offense and set the tone for things to come. The next Bulldogs series similary ended in disaster. A fumble on the first play was recovered by Colby Kalaukoa at the TLU 31-yard line. Two plays later, Eaton and Wolfe hooked up again for a scoring play to make the score 14-0 just four minutes into the contest.
Showing up ready to perform with a 21-point first-quarter, North Central seized control of Saturday's game against Whitworth in the earliest of stages. Whitworth (10-2) won the coin toss and took possession to open the game, but on the first play from scrimmage, Cardinal safety Will Vernon stepped in front of quarterback Ryan Blair's pass at the Pirates' 29-yard line and returned it to the end zone for an early 7-0 lead. Luke Lehnen completed 10 of 13 passes for 137 yards and Skokna was the Cardinals' top receiver with four catches for 30 yards. BJ Adamchik and Roby shared the team lead with Rahmareon seven tackles each, while Vernon made six stops and linebacker Danny Nuccio, in the lineup for the first time since Sept. 28, finished with five.